Fibre reinforced collapsible container



April 20, 1948. P. ZALKlND 2,439,993

FIBRE REINFORCED COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER L Filed Feb. 2a, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet I N VEN TOR. PHIL/P ZALK/ND ATTORNEY April 20, 1948. P. ZALKIND 7 2,439,998

FIBRE REINFORCED COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Feb. 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. PHIL/P ZALK/ND ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1948 FIBRE REINFORCED COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Philip Zalkind, New York, N. Y.

Application February 26, 1943, Serial No. 477,203

My present invention relates to collapsible containers of the casing and drawer type adapted to coact to form file cabinet sections which may be stacked one upon the other.

In the formation and construction of such casings and drawer combinations, particularly where they are made of a sheet material having relatively little edgewise compressive strength such as paper, corrugated board and the like, it is necessary that reinforcing means he applied particularly to the casing section so that when a plurality of casings are stacked one upon the other, the superposed load on a lower casing can be resisted so as not to create a distortion which will impede the movement of the drawer into and out of the casing.

In my previous patents, such as 2,118,011,

' 2,233,906, 2,246,966 and 2,245,026, various reinforcements and modifications thereof are shown. However, the structural members shown therein are'comprised primarily of metal. times, during metal shortages as in war time, etc, it becomes desirable to substitute non-metallic materials for reinforcing elements.

These substitutions however have presented new problems and opportunities with respect to friction reducing elements, interlocking elements, rigidifying elements and structures and other accessories.

An object of my invention therefore is the provision of structural supporting elements for collapsible casings and drawers and combinations thereof. I

An important object of my invention is the: formation of friction reducing devices primarily from non-metallic materials and the securement thereof to the cooperating casing and drawer structure in such a manner as not to interfere with collapsibility thereof.

An additional object of my invention is the arrangement of various interlocking members for interengagin'g the reinforcing structure of vertically and horizontally adjacent cabinets in order to lock the same in stacked formation.

These andmany other objects of my invention will in part be apparent and where not apparent will be pointed out in the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the front of a casing member embodying the reinforcing structure of my present invention.

Figure 2 is a View corresponding to that of Figure 1 showing one of the reinforcing members disengaged preliminary to collapse.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2 showing all of the reinforcing members disengaged preliminary to collapse.

Figure 4 is a View in perspective of the casing structures of Figures 1-3 in collapsed condition.

6 Claims. (01. 312-108) At various pendent thus each having a leg which is rotatr Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-'-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing one method of attachment of the vertical reinforcing members.

' Figures 6, 7 and 8 are cross sectional views correspondingto Figure 5 showing alternative methods ofattaching the vertical strip.

Figure 9 is -'a view in perspective of the lower horizontal reinforcing member showing the friction reducing device on the casing.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are views in perspectiveshowing the various parts of the lower horizontal reinforcing member of Figure 9.

Figurel3a is a cross sectional view taken on line 13c l3a of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are cross sectional views corresponding to that of Figure 5 showing further methods of securement of the vertical reinforcing strip to' the container member. Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, I have here shown a collapsible casing member constructed in accordance with my invention having a top wall 5|, side walls 52 and 53 and bottom wall 54. A channel shaped reinforcing member 56 preferably of metal is clamped over the forward margin of the top wall and serves to rotatably secure at each end thereof one leg of each of the angle wires 51, 51.

The opposite angle wires 51, 51 may be indeably captured by the reinforcing member 56 or the angle wire members may be formed from a single U-shaped wire the base of which extends along the entire length of channel 56 and the projecting legs of which rotate together. The angle wires'5l may be utilized to maintain the walls of the casing in rigid angular relation in the manner described in my Patent No. 2,118,011.

While it is preferred that the channel shaped reinforcing member 56 be of metallic material, it may be of any other suitable material adapted to engage the angle wire member 51, 51 in a manher to permit rotation thereof and I am thus not necessarily limited to metal in the formation thereof.

The vertical reinforcing members 60, 60 consist of rigid longitudinal fibrous strips secured in any suitable manner as, for instance, by adhesive, to the extensions 5|, SI of the respective side walls 53 and 52, which are separated therefrom by the fold lines 52, 62.

While it is preferred that the extensions 61, 6| be integral with the side walls in order to economize in the manufacturing processes, it is obvious that the said extensions Bl may berotatably secured to the forward margins of the walls 52 and 53 in any other suitable manner.

The bottom reinforcing member 64 may be secured to the bottom wall 54 in substantially the same manner as are the vertical reinforcing members 66, 60 secured to their walls. That is. an extension '58 from the bottom wall 54 either integral therewith or otherwise hingedly secured thereto carries secured thereon preferably by adhesive, the reinforcing member 64. extension 58 with reinforcing member 64 is then folded up around the hinging line 65 into the interior of the casing, the bottom reinforcing member serves to provide a spacing and reinforcing means for the bottom of the casing.

The manner by which the various reinforcing elements cooperate to interlock each other and maintain the casing in erected condition will best be understood from an explanation of the method of erecting the casing from the collapsed condition of Figure 4 to the erected condition of Figure 1.

The collapsed casing member of Figure 4, is first unfolded to the form shown in Figure 3. The angle wires 51, 51 are then rotated downwardly inside the extensions 6| so that they coincide with the fold lines 62, 62. The vertical reinforcing members as, 69 are then folded inwardly around the angle wires 57, 51 so that the casing then assumes the form shown in Figure 2.

The bottom reinforcing member 64 is then folded inwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1 where the notches 6], 6'! bear against the lower ends of the vertical reinforcing members 60, B0.

The lower reinforcing member 64 is a tight frictional fit between the vertical reinforcing member 6t], 60 and is thus securely held therein. Further when the drawer is in place within the casing, the weight of the drawer resting on the lower reinforcing member 54 serves further to maintain the same in position.

The casing walls are maintained in rigid angular relation by means of the rigid angle wires, one leg of each of which is now captured in the upper horizontal channel 56 and the other leg of which is captured between the extensions 6| and their respective associated walls. The reinforcing members 60, 69 carried by the extensions 6i, 6! are held in place bythe abutment between them of the lower reinforcing member 64.

Accordingly when the lower reinforcin member 64 is in place, the vertical reinforcing members cannot move out of their erected position. Since these members cannot move out of position the angle wire legs are rigidly held both with respect to the top wall and the side walls thus maintaining the walls of the casing in rigid angular relation.

The several reinforcing members thus brought into the erected position further serve (although this is not essential) to maintain rigid angular relation between the walls. The main purpose of the bottom reinforcing members of course is to maintain the vertical reinforcing members in position.

Various materials may be utilized for these reinforcing members. Thus I have found that reinforcements made of cardboard or of corrugated board or of laminations thereof may be sufficient to provide compressive strength. In larger structures, harder fibrous structures such as wood, plywood, veneers, paper board or pressed pulp materials may be used.

In my commercial structures I have found that hard board furnishes a good result both with respect to strength and appearance.

In Figures 1-4 the bottom reinforcement is shown as having a form adapting it to be permanently secured to the casing and folded there- When the I into when the casing is erected. I have found that a tight frictional fit between the vertical reinforcing members plus the securement of the extension 53 which supports the lower reinforcing member 84 at the fold line 65 to the bottom wall -54 will serve to maintain the lower reinforcing I 'members of Figures 1-4 in place irrespective of any longitudinal stresses which may be exerted thereon by the sliding movement of the drawer.

However, the reinforcing member need not necessarily be permanently secured in place but may be a separate piece such as the reinforcing member I0 in Figure 9 which is provided with lateral three-sided notches Eh-H which are adapted to surround the lower ends of the vertical reinforcing members'fill, Ell.

Where a lower reinforcing member 10, suchas that of Figure 9 is used, then the reinforcing member 64 of Figures 1-4 is dispensed with. When the casing has assumed the form shown in Figure 2, the reinforcing member 70 is inserted therein so that the notches H engage the lower ends of the vertical reinforcing members 68, thus serving to complete and reinforce the casing in the manner previously set forth.

In Figures 5-8 I have shown various ways of securing the vertical reinforcing member 60 to the vertical walls of the casing.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing the method of securement specifically shown in Figures 1-4. Here again the extension 6| is an integral extension of the side wall 53, being separated therefrom by the fold line 62. The reinforcing member GE! is adhesively secured to the outer edge of the extension Bl or it may be secured in any other suitable manner.

I Figure 6 I have shown a construction exactly similar to that of Figure 5 with the addition, however, that a facing sheet 12 is secured on the outer side of the extension El and surrounds the outer surface of the reinforcing member 60. In Figure 7 I have shown a modification of the construction of Figure 5 wherein the extension 6i has a further extension 13 which is wrapped around the reinforcing member 60 in order to provide a facing for the same.

In Figure 8 I have shown a construction exactly like that of Figure 5 showing, however, a metal reinforcing member 14 secured over the fold line 62. The metal reinforcing member is intended to be secured adjacent the upper .end of the fold line to provide a bearing surface for the leg of the angle wire 51. This metallic member need not necessarily have a fold line therein coinciding with the fold 62 since it is of relatively thin material and the fold line 62 in the heavier paper material will serve to predetermine the bend of the laminated structure in the manner shown in my Patent No. 2,274,765. The metallic sheet 14, which protects the paper and provides a bearing surfacefor the angle wire may be an integral extension of the interlocking element. The metallic bearing member may have lugs, wings or other deformations therein as shown in my Patent Nos. 2,088,315 and 2,233,906 to grip the angle Wire when folded.

In Figures 14, 15 and 16 I have shown a slight modification of the method of securement of the reinforcing member. In these various modifications, the extension which carries the reinforcing member is not an integral extension of the side wall of the container but is a separate member which, however, is permanently secured thereto.

Thus in Figure 14 a tape member 6| is secured to the outer side of the front margin of the side wall 52. The tape may be secured adhesively or in any other suitable manner as, for instance, by wire stitching, staples or the like. The reinforcing member 60 is secured to the outer end of the reinforcing tape 6| in the same manner as it is secured to the extension Bl of Figure 5.

-. When the tape is now folded' inwardly in the manner indicated by the dotted line and arrow 15,,the additional reinforcing tape 6! serves to face the outer edge of the wall 52 and provide a finished appearancefor the casing.

Essentially, the structure and operation of the form shownin Figure 14 is the same as that shown in Figure 5, the only distinction being that the tape carrying the reinforcement is not integral with the container.

, In Figure 15 I have shown a slight modification of the structure of Figure 14 wherein the additional reinforcing tape 6| has an extension 13' ,(like that of Figure 7), which wraps around and faces the reinforcing member 60. In Figure 16 I have shown an additional slight modification wherein the additional reinforcing tape BI is adhesively secured not only to the front margin of the wall 52 but also Over the front edge thereof and is provided with a reentrant fold 16 between it and the extension ll which is wrapped around the reinforcing member 60.

, Here the tapeis rotated inwardly around the foldline lfiwhen the casing is to be erected.

- Manyother methods of securement of the vertical reinforcing member to the casing so that they may be readily rotated into the casing to reinforce the same should now be obvious.

I have here illustrated but a few of the preferredembodiments of this preferred construction. It will now be obvious from an inspection of Figure 1 that the reinforcing member 60 provides a rabbeted reinforcement for the front of the casing which ensures compressive strength and provides a bearing for the front of the drawer casing as shown, for instance, in my Patent No. 2,118,011. The front of the drawer may be wider than the drawer body so that while the drawer-body may pass between the reinforcing membersfill, 60, the outer lateral edges of the front of the drawer will abut against the outer surfaces of the rabbeted reinforcements 60,60 110 provide a finished appearancefor the cabinet structure when the drawer is closed, as shownin my Patent No. 2,152,676.

.My lower horizontal reinforcing member, either of the form 64 of Figure 1 or of the form 16 of Figure 9, ispart'icularly adapted for use in connectlon with any friction reducing means which may be needed to facilitate the movement of the drawer into and out of the casing.

Referring now to Figures 913, I'have here shQWn one way of adapting the lower reinforcing member to earryiroller members. In Figure 9 it will be seen that the reinforcing member 19 is provided with-a plurality of rollers 80, which arerotatable on the common axle 8!. Referring toFigure 10, the lower reinforcing member isprovided with a plurality of coaxial longitudinal grooves 82 spaced apart by wells 83. Each of the wells 83 is of a width and length-to receive a roller 80 and permit the same to rotate freely therein.- 7 I .Accordingly, the depth of each of these wells should be at least greater than a radius of the roller'.- Preferably they should be somewhat deeper in order to accommodate for any individual variations which may occur during use of the rollers. Where desired, full holes or cutouts extending entirel through the member 10 may be provided to ensure clearance for large rollers, and registering openings may even be provided in the bottom of the container further to ensure clearance.

In the form shown in Figures 9-13, three rollers 80, each having a longitudinal opening 85 therein, are threaded on the continuous axle 8| and are spaced apart thereon by distances equal to the length of the central grooves 82, 82 between the wells 83. The axle is then placed in the grooves 82, while at the same time the rollers are adjusted so that they each enter their respective wells 83. The axle 8| is then secured in place in the grooves 82 in any suitable mamier, preferably by adhesive, though staples or any other suitable securing meansmay be used.

Obviously, each of the rollers 80 may have an individual axle instead of the common axle 8|, which individual axle may be secured in the same manner without departing from the principle of my invention.

The grooves 82 are preferably, although not necessarily, of such depth that the axle 8| is completely or almost completely embedded therein so that virtually the only projections from the upper surface of the lower horizontal reinforcing member 10 are the roller elements 80. The roller elements are freely rotatable on the axle and hence-can cooperate with any suitable track member on the lower surface of the drawer.

While in ordinary commercial embodiments of the above structure it has been found feasible to utilize a simple longitudinal bore in each of the rollers 80, I have also found, however, that where the bore is of the form 90 shown in Figure 13a, improved results are achieved. The bore 90, it

. will be seen from the cross sectional View of Figure 13a, is formed primarily from two conical perforations which meet at the center of the roller '80. The section of the interior of the roller 9| where they meet is not sharp, but rounded off so that each of the rollers may tilt independently to accommodate for any variations in the depth of the tracks with which they cooperate. This formation also provides for less friction between the roller and the axle.

I have found also in commercial embodiments that the rollers and axle may consist of wood and, owing to the large bearing surfaces provided, need not necessarily consist of a hard wood material, although this is preferred. In any case,

the use of the double conical longitudinal perforation 9B of Figure 13a. serves to prevent any jamming of the rollers on the axle and provides a means for cleaning out the interior of the roller should any foreign material lodge therein and jam the same.

- be thus threaded or grooved inwardly from each end of the roller.

In the foregoing, I have set forth my invention in connection only with preferred embodiments therof. Many variations in the formation of the various elements and in the adaptation thereof to various collapsible structures should now be clear to those skilled in the art. I therefore prefer to be bound not by the specific descriptions herein set forth, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding casing of the class described, having an open front and top, bottom and side walls; said walls being hingedly connected together along fold lines extending to said open front; extensions on said side walls hingedly connected thereto and extending in said container in surface to surface relation with the interior of their respective walls; vertical reinforcing members secured to said extensions; said reinforcing members, when said extensions are folded in, extending between the top and bottom walls; and means for locking reinforcing members in position in the erected casing, said means also assisting in maintaining rigid angular relation between the walls of the casing; and additional means for maintaining rigid angular relation between the walls of the casing, said last mentioned means being mounted on a horizontal wall of the casing and engaging aside wall thereof and beingdisengageable therefrom.

2. A folding casing of the class described, having an open front and top, bottom and side walls; said walls being hingedly connected together along fold lines extending to said open front; extensions on said side walls hingedly connected thereto and extending in said container in surface to surface relation with the interior of their respective Walls; vertical reinforcing members of fibrous material and of substantial cross-section secured to said extensions; said reinforcing members, forming posts extending between the top and bottom walls; and an additional horizontal reinforcing member inserted in said open front; the ends of said horizontal reinforcing member having a portion reduced in length each end of which portion is engaging a surface of one of said vertical reinforcing members; said horizontal reinforcing members having longitudinal extensions defining shoulders for engaging other surfaces of said vertical reinforcing members.

3. A folding casing of the class described, having an open front and top, bottom and side walls; said walls being; hingedly connected together along fold lines extending to said open front; extensions on said side walls hingedly connected thereto and rotatable into said container in surface to surface relation with the interior of their respective walls; vertical reinforcing members secured to said extensions; said reinforcing members, when said extensions are folded in, extending between the top and bottom walls; and an additional horizontal reinforcing member removably inserted in said open front; rollers on said horizontal reinforcing member projecting above one surface thereof; saidhorizontal reinforcing member having a plurality of openings in at least one surface thereof; channels communicating with said openings; an axle member secured in said channels and extending across said openings and rollers mounted on said axle in registry with said openings; said horizontal reinforcing member having a portion reduced in length each end of which portion is engageable with a surface of said vertical reinforcing member; said horizontal reinforcing member having longitudinal extensions defining shoulders for '8 engaging other surfaces of said vertical reinforcing members. l

4. A folding casing of the class described, having an open front and top, bottom and side walls; said walls being hingedly connected together along fold lines extending to said open front; extensions on said side Walls hingedly connected thereto and rotatable into said container in surface to surface relation with the interior of their respective walls; vertical reinforcing members secured to said extensions; said reinforcing members, when said extensions are folded in, extending between the top and bottom walls; and an additional horizontal reinforcing member removably inserted in said open front; rollers on said horizontal reinforcing member projecting above one surface thereof; said horizontal reinforcing member having an opening in at least one surface thereof; channels in said surface communicating with said opening; an axle secured in said channels and extending across said opening; and a roller mounted on said axlein registry with said opening; said horizontalreinforcing member having a portion reduced in length each end of which portion is engageable with a surface of said vertical reinforcing member; said horizontal reinforcing member having longitudinalextensions defining shoulders for engaging other surfaces of said vertical reinforcing members.

5. A folding casing of the class described, hav-- ing an open front and top, bottom and side walls; said walls being hingedly connected together along fold lines extending to said open front; extensions on said side walls hingedl'y connected thereto and rotatable into said container in surface to surface relation with the interior of their respective walls; vertical reinforcing members secured to said extensions; said reinforcing members, when said extensions are folded in, extending between the top and bottom walls; and an additional horizontal reinforcing member removably inserted in said open front; rollers on said horizontal reinforcing member projecting above one surface thereof; said horizontal reinforcin member having a plurality of openings in atleast one surface thereof; an axle secured to said surface and extending across said openings; and rollers mounted on said axle in registry with said openings; said horizontal reinforcing member having a portion reduced in length each end of which portion is engageable with a surface of said vertical reinforcing member; said horizontal reinforcing member having longitudinal extensions defining shoulders for engaging other surfaces of said vertical reinforcing members.

6. A folding casing of the class described, having an open front and top, bottom and side walls; said walls being hingedly connected together'along fold lines extending to said open front; extensions on said side walls hingedly connected thereto and extending in said container in surface to surface relation with the interior of their respective walls; vertical reinforcing members secured to said extensions; said reinforcing members, when said extensions are folded in, extending between the top and bottom walls; and means for locking said reinforcing members in position when said casing is erected; said means also assisting in maintaining rigid angular relation between the walls of the casing; and additional means for maintaining rigid angular relation between the walls of the casing; said last mentioned means comprising an angle wire having one leg rotatably secured at a horizontal wall and another leg engaging a side wall at the hinged connection thereof to its extension; and means for reinforcing said hinged connection at the area where said angle wire leg bears against the side wall.

PHILIP ZALKIND.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Edwards Nov. 4, 1890 Number Number 10 Name Date Sharpneck May 5, 1908 OBrien Jan. 16, 1917 Becker Feb. 6, 1917 Maley Jan. 4, 1921 Wurzburg Mar. 12, 1935 Harley June 23, 1936 Zalkind, May 17, 1938 Larson Jan. 2, 1940 Zalkind June 24, 1941 Palmgren Aug. 19, 1941 

